Baccarat is a casino table game that can seem intimidating to the average gambler, but with a little bit of practice, you will be able to play this classic table game with ease. Baccarat is one of the most popular games in casinos around the world, and it offers some of the lowest house edges in any game. This is due to the simple fact that the game is based on luck, rather than skill.
This explains why the game is so popular, and it also means that a savvy player will be able to make some significant wins at the tables. The game is a lot easier to learn than many other casino games, and you can even enjoy the thrill of playing baccarat on your smartphone or tablet.
The History of Baccarat
There is much debate as to where the game of baccarat originated. However, most historians come to the conclusion that the name is a combination of Italian and French words. The word baccara literally means zero, and this is a reference to the fact that the values of all picture cards and tens in the game equal zero.
The 19th Century saw Baccarat become a household name throughout the world, thanks to its numerous victories at the great exhibitions and fairs of the time. The company’s success at these events would help it attract admirers and customers from as far afield as the Ottoman Turkey, Portugal, Japan, and India.
During this time, Baccarat became well known for its production of fine crystal glassware. In particular, the company’s line of milky-colored vases which were dubbed ‘opaline’ by contemporary observers because of their resemblance to fine porcelain became hugely popular among Victorian collectors. In addition, the company produced monumental lighting fixtures that would astonish audiences at events and royal palaces throughout the world.
At its heyday, Baccarat had more than 250 workers producing a staggering number of pieces per day. The firm also had a reputation for its opulent furnishings, such as the 1867 ‘Jusivy’ table service that was designed for the Exposition Universelle in Paris, and the 17.5-foot (5 metres) tall candelabras that it created for the royal court at Dolmbahce Palace in Istanbul.
Baccarat’s opulent products were showcased at the most prestigious exhibitions and fairs, including the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris, where the company’s massive glass ‘Temple of Mercury’ won a gold medal. Its success at these shows led to Baccarat winning orders for its designs in palaces, castles, and other venues worldwide.
The earliest Baccarat pieces were decorated with hand-painted floral motifs, but as the company developed, its glassware became increasingly ornate and sophisticated. In the late 19th Century, the firm pushed for recognition of its brand by adopting a paper label on its items which featured the Baccarat mark. This was later replaced by a scripted laser-etched mark.
The modern game of baccarat is played on a large table, and there are from seven to 14 seats for players and a dealer’s area. The dealer deals the cards from a shoe, and two are dealt to the Player hand, and two to the Banker’s Hand. Depending on the outcome of the hand, bettors place wagers on which hand will win — Banker, Player, or Tie. The card rankings are as follows: Picture or Face Cards are worth 0 points; Numbered cards are worth their face value; and Aces are valued at one point. When the points total reaches double digits, the second digit becomes the value of the hand.